Polishing disc and method of making same



Allg. 20, 1963 R. A. sALlcK 3,100,905

A POLISHING msc AND METHOD oF MAKING SAME Filed April 4, 1960 IN V EN TOR. /PHA ph 19. 55u. /c/

27 JWM Patented Aug. 20, 1963 3,100,905 POLISHING DISC AND METHQD F MAKING SAME I Ralph A. Salick, Rte. 1, Box 264, Merton, Wis. Filed Apr. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 19,902 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-235) This invention relates generally to improvements in polishing discs or mop he-ads and more specifically the manner of manufacture of the same.

It has been customary prior hereto to manufacture polishing discs or pads from a circular piece of animal fur or fabric in a well known manner whereby the center of the pad is secured against a flexible disc face mounted on the end of a rotatable mandrel and with the peripheral edge of the polishing disc wrapped over the edge of the flexible disc and secured to the backside thereof by means of a shirring string or other mechanical securing means. Manufacturing discs or pad-s in this rn-anner necessarily require a circular formed skin or fabric of a size considerably larger than that of the flexible disc uponI which the pad isI to be mounted. It has also been the practice to manufacture pads for mop heads from a rectangular piece of skin and to mount the same by means of a mechanical clamping device; such devices were often diilicult to operate especially when coated with Wax and the like.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved polishing disc ormop head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved disc manufactured froma piece of skin or fabric 4of reduced size.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved polishing pad or disc having a strengthened peripheral edge of preselected uniform width.

Another object is to provide an improved polishing disc having an edge designed to prevent burning when the rotating material along the line of upset thereof engages an object during a `polishing operation.'

According to this invention, an improved polishing disc or pad is provided for use in high production polishing operations in which the danger of edge burns is ever present. The disc is manufactured from a piece of skin or fabric cut circularly somewhat larger than the circular backing disc upon which it is -to be mounted. In order to provide a polishing edge on the disc, the backing materi-al is permanently upset to insure that an edge of predetermined width will freely stand at an angle approximately 90 to the face of the disc. This is accomplishedf by one of several methods, the first of which necessitates the wetting of the backing material in the disc and thereafter subjecting the edge to uniform pressure between a pair of upset or creasing rollers which serve `to impart a permanent crease thereto. A `second method likewise requires the wetting of the backing stock or skin and thereafter subjecting the edge to an upset pressure between a male and female forming die.` In order to strengthen the upset edge, `stitching or sewing about the peripheral edge of the disc may be utilized, or cloth` tape may be sewed to the inner upright face of the upset edge, or,the skin or material may be chemically treated along the crease to set the same for the life of the buing disc. Polishing discs, pads or bonnets manufactured in this manner will have an upstan'ding polishing edge which cannot impart an edge burn -to the surface being polished. In addition, with such an edge the tendency of the pad to hook under an extending edge on a piece part being polished or butfed is considerably reduced. Likewise, according to this invention, an improved polishing mop head can be manufactured from a rectangular piece of skin or pile fabric wherein parallel edges or alledges are upset by one of the methods suggested above. The upstanding edge not only affords a bumper as the mop is manipulated, but also permits the use of retaining straps which serve to eliminate the need for ythe csutomary mechanical mop head clamping means.

The foregoing and otherobjects of the invention which will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a polishing pad manufactured according to the teachings of this invention, may be accomplished in the manner hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved polishing or buihng disc securely mounted on a rotatable backing disc operatively journalled on' the end of a exible cable in a well known manner;

FIGURE 2 is `an enlarged sectional vie-w of a polishing disc showing the edge upset to provide a polishing edge of predetermined width;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a portion of a circular skin or material from which a polishing disc is ultimately made;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a portion of la polishing disc having the polishing edge upsettingly secured in an upright position by means of peripheral stitching;

`FIGURE 4A is a sectional view of a polishing disc wherein a tape is utilized to retain the polishing edge in an upright position.

FIGURE 5 is a view exemplifying a manufacturing process wherein 4a polishing disc edge is upset between a pair of pressure rollers;

FIGURE 6 diagrammatically depicts another method of upsetting the edge of Ia. circular or rectangular polishing pad; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective View of a rectangular mop head with edges upset to provide means for securement on the end of Ia mop.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the invention relates to a new and novel buing or polishing disc 10 having certain features inherent in the manner in which the disc is manufactured. In commercial use, the disc `10,` is securely mounted on a exible mounting plate 11 and hub 12 by means of a centrally disposed locking bolt 13 in a well known manner to permit ready removal and replacement. The plate hub y112. is secured to the end of a power driven flexible shaft 14; a handle 15` on` the end of a flexible sheath or cable 16 permits one perfor-ming a polishing or bufing operation to` readily manipulate the bufling disc itll over a surface being polished regardless of contour. Polishing or bufling discs of this type are used daily in numerous industrial plants and shops and, consequently, must be manufactured as nuggedly as possible in order to withstand the constant wear and tear normally imparted thereto. i n

The polishing disc or pad 10 which is the subject of the invention hereinafter described is of the solid animal skin or pile fabric type. Initially, each disc. is cut in circular shape of a `size somewhat larger than the flexible mounting plate 11 on which the disc or padiwill ultimately be used. For example, in the dotted circle `1'7 in FIG. 3 represents the size of the` plate lll, the numeral 1'8 represents the size of the circular skin initially cut and utilized in manufacturing a bu'ing disc. The addirtional` material of a predetermined width indicated by arrows 19, is that which is used to provide a permanently rupset polishing edge 20 about the peripheral edge of the disc, as shown in FIG. 2. Th-us, by varying the initial size of the circular skin it is possible to provide a larger or smaller upstanding edge. The edge width requirements 20 will depend on the nature of the polishing operation in which the particular disc will ultimately bev used, the type of mounting plate 1l on which the disc is to be secured, and the type of material from which the disc is made. An upstanding edge Z in the range of one-eighth inch to one inch is generally lfound adequate for the purpose herein described. A hole 21 cut in the center of fthe disc serves to permit passage of the securement bolt I13.

An upstanding or upset edge can be permanently created by one of several methods such Ias is depicted in FIGURES and 6. Either of the methods may be used to crease the circular skin or pile fabric in a manner to produce s-uch an edge or face.

The roller method, as shown in FlGURE 5, requires that the back face of the circular skin or fabric be wetted for a short period of time. Thereafter, the skin or fabric blank is secured, nap downwardly, on a turntable 25 power driven by means of a pulley and motor unit 26 to provide rotation at a uniform speed in one direction, as indicated by arrow 27. While rota- Y tion of the table 25 and the circular skin mounted thereon is effected, a rotating upsetting tool or roller 2S is brought into engagement with the back face of the skin in a manner to impart concentrated pressure along a circular upset 1ine-29g the material between the upset line and the periphery of the skin or fabric will be irnmediately upset upwardly toa position substantially 90 to fthe face of the polishing disc. The adjusted position of the tool 28 will determine the width of the upset edge 30. The nap 31 on the face and edge of the polishing disc is not disturbed during the aforedescribed manufacturing process and will be uniformly disposed throughout to provide a homogeneous bufling surface.

A second method for providing an upset edge adjacent to the peripheralv edge of the skin or fabric is depicted in FIGURE 6. This method, likewise, requires that the back face of the skin or fabric be wetted for a short time before the application of pressure. A pair of forming dies 35 and 36 are used in this method. The female die 35 is ixedly secured on a table or support 37 while the male die 36 is secured to the lower end of a p-iston rod 38 selectively actuated by means of a hydraulic cylinder 39 mounted on support arm 40. The wetted disc or pad is placed face down on the female die 35. The hydraulic cylinder mechanism is then actuated to eifectively lower the male die 36 until the bottom face thereof engages and forces the disc or pad downwardly into the cavity on the female die. Pressure is continued for a short time and then released; upon release, the upstanding edge will have been created and the same will thereafter remain upset relative to the face of the disc or pad.

A permanent set may be imparted to the upstanding or upset edge by any one ofseveral methods. If the manufactured polishing disc is to be used only for bufng purposes wherein moisture is not present, it would not be necessary tol treat the upset edge 20. However, if the buing disc might ultimately be used under moist conditions it is necessary to treat the upset edge to insure the continued right angular relationship between the polishing edge and the face of the disc. A specialized type of stitching or sewing 23` may be utilized for this purpose immediately adjacent the peripheral edge of the circular piece Vof `animal skin; for example, cross-stitch, as depicted in FIGURE 4, serves to cause the edge material rto be gathered sufficiently to impart rmness thereto. If a wider upstanding edge is to be provided, a cloth :tape 24 approximating the height of the edge 22 can be sewn on the inner face of the skin immediately adjacent the peripheral edge thereof; this tape will serve as a stifener for the edge and prevent distortion while the polishing disc is rotated during a bufring operation.

Various yother means may be utilized to effect a permanent set in the backing material of a polishing disc or mop head. `For example: after the edge is upset, a silicone or otherrchemical solution could be applied to the back face and allowed to dry. Once dried, the back skin or fabric material could never become sufficiently dampened to cause the circular disc material to lose its preformed shape or crease. Consequently, the upset edge would be maintained regardless off the type of commercial use to which the disc or mop head would be subjected.

Each of the methods aforedescribed could be utilized in forming a rectangular, triangular, for square shaped mop head such as is commonly used Kfor mops adapted for floor waxing or cleaning purposes. A mop head or buffing pad 41 of this type is depicted in FIGURE '7.V The pad iscomprised of a `flat surface 42 and at least two opy positely disposed upset edges `43. The side edge which is upset serves as a buffer or bumper to .protect furniture and the like from being marred when engaged by the mop. The mop head or pad is provided with a pair of straps 44 and 45 which serve to readily secure it to a correspondingly sized mop block 46 mounted on the lower end of a mopstick 47 by of a swivel connector or socket 4S. The manufacture of mop pads in this manner completely eliminates the necessity for mechanical clamping means such as are commonly found ion polishing mops. With the type of mop described, a person would not need to soil his hands while mounting or removing a mop head Ior pad from the Iblock 46 since it is comparatively simple to manipulate the straps on the pad for this purpose. Mop assemblies manufactured in the described manner are considerably less `cos-tly to make Iand are more readily interohanged by van untrained operator. Further, the mop head or pad may be provided with an upset edge 43 about all of its sides in order to provide full bumper protection as the mop is used.

'Ilo one skilled in the art it should be obvious that the aforedescribed constructions serve to provide a bufng disc -or mop head which has superior advantages. Not only is the disc or map pad less costly to manufacture since the size thereof initially is smaller, but an effective polishing or bumper edge of preselected height tis provided whioh `can be utilized to particular'advantage in many operations. 'Iihe upset portion has the same polishing or buin-g characteristics as that of the face of the disc. In addition, the upset edge has been found to remain in position so that it is impossible to cause :a surface burn such as can occur during a buing operation utilizing a flat disc; this saving feature is not present in other types `of discs since they impart a burn under certain operating conditions. Such occurrences are virtually unknown when the subject buflngdisc is used.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates that various modifications of the structure herein shown may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of this invention having now been fully explained in connection with the foregoing description, I hereby claim as my invention: p

1. A method of manufacturing polishing discs which comprises cutting a circular disc having a skin backing and a napsurface, wetting the backside thereof, and subjecting the skin along a predetermined upset line to a concentrated pressure between upset rollers whereby the backing is permanently creased to provide a polishingv flange perpendicularly disposed around the periphery of the disc, which when rotated at high speed during a polishing operation will not revert to the plane of rotation of the disc.

2. A buffing pad for a mop-head comprising a fabric of predetermined shape, and a crease line spaced from one or more edges of said fabric serving to create a permanent transversely disposed fold o-f fabric designed to provide a bumper edge face operative while the mop head is in use to fully engage objects and prevent damage thereto.

3. The method of manufacturing a hung pad which comprises cutting a blank, wetting the blank along a line of proposed crease, and subjecting the blank to a creasing operation between a flat surface and a rotating upsetting tool whereby a crease line is permanently created on one face of the blank and a peripheral band beyond the crease line is upset to provide a bumper edge.

4. The method of manufacturing polishing discs which comprises cutting a blank of predetermined shape and size, moistening the backside of the blank along a line of proposed crease, placing the blank `face ydown on a turntable,l engaging the back face of the blank with a rotary upsetting tool at a point of proposed crease and effecting pressurized rotationbetween the turntable and tool whereby a crease line is permanently impressed on the backside of the blank in a manner to cause a peripheral bumper edge of uniform width to be upset.

5. A buing pad for mounting on a substantially iat flexible plate of a power driven buing machine and comprising a disc having a skin backing with a nap surface, a crease line permanently formed in the skin backing face a predetermined distance from the peripheral edge of said edge of the `skin engage and inilict a burn ou a surface disc, said crease line serving to xedly fold a portion of being polished.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,059 Eppler July 31, 1888 490,419 Webster Jan. 24, 1893 956,612 Venn May 3, 1910 2,014,119 Stecker Sept. 10, 1935 2,250,888 Chandler July 29, 1941 2,280,149 Gerst Apr. 271, 1942 2,469,429 Beam et al May 10,1949 2,704,238 Ushakoff Mar. 15, 1955 2,838,891 Haywood June 17, 1958 p FOREIGN PATENTS 467,973 Great Britain June 21, 1937 l 780,607 Great Britain Aug. 7, 1957 

2. A BUFFING PAD FOR A MOP HEAD COMPRISING A FABRIC OF PREDETERMINED SHAPE, AND A CREASE LINE SPACED FROM ONE OR MORE EDGES OF SAID FABRIC SERVING TO CREATE A PERMANENT TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED FOLD OF FABRIC DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A BUMPER EDGE FACE OPERATIVE WHILE THE MOP HEAD IS IN USE TO FULLY ENGAGE OBJECTS AND PREVENT DAMAGE THERETO. 